Placer-gold separator.



T. G. LEAVELL.

PLACER GOLD SEPARATOR. APPLICATION TILED NOV. 21,1907.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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T. G. LEAVELL. PLACER GOLD $EPARATOR. APPLIUATION I'ILBD NOV. 27, 1907.

919,894. Patented Apr.-27, 1909.

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- which the black sand removed therefrom principles and new economy in the use of SP FFIQE.

THOMAS G. LEAVELLOF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO WILLIAM J.

PARKS, ONE-FIFTH TO HENRY L. HERKELRATH, ONE-FIFTH TO EDMUND E. BRANDT, AND ON E-FIFTH TO MERTON .l.

HILLs, LL OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. PLACER-GOLD SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 27, 1907.

' Serial No. 404,191.

Patented April 27, 1909.

To all whom it may concern. I view of the magnetized cylinder and Fig. Be it known that I, THOMAS G. LEAVELL, a I 4, is a sectional view of the magnetized cylincitizen of the United States, residing at Spo- I der and of the rotary brush and the scraper. kane, in the county of Spokane and State of The apparatus is mounted upon a frame ashington, have invented certain new and 10.. Abowl 11, to serve as a receptacle for useful Improvements in Placer-Gold Separa- I mercury is anchored within the frame 10 and tors, of which the his invention relates to placer 'gold separators, of the kind dry process, l as distinguished from those depending on To the shaft 12 is secured a bevel gear 14, gravity and a flow of water in various ways meshing with a bevel gear 15 secured to end and by various means. While I use mercury I of the shaft 16. The shaft 16 is to take up the gold, I have made use of new I with a sprocket wheel'17 facilitating a chain devices to make more I 18 connection with the other moving mechprocess, along with greater anism. Within the frame 10 and secured mercury, as well as to rotate, the bowl ll resting upon the ball bearings 13.

thorough the to a shaft l9is anchored a funnel 20, extendsave a greater ercentage of the gold. While ing downward into the bowl 11 to a point this is terme a dry process, still a small near the bottom thereof. At the bottom amount of water may be used to overflow portion of the funnel 20 is secured a shaft 21, the surface of the mercur to assist in carryto which is anchored a'sprocket wheel 22, ing away the waste dirt and for other .pu'rand to the shaft 23 near the top of the funnel poses. These objects are attained by the '20 is secured a sprocket wheel 24. A chain mechanism facilitatingamore thorough miX 25 bearing cu s 26 at'intervals, connects ture of the sand and earth with the mercury, liet wheels 22 and 24 located bringinga greater portion of thegold in near the top and bottom, respectively, of the the sand and dirt in actual contact with the Mounted upon a shaft 27 at the mercury, also by the mechanism used to top of the frame 10 is the magnetized cylin-' separate the black sand from the other porder 28 and subjacent thereto and tions of sand and dirt before coming in con upon the shaft l9is a rotary brush 33. Also tact with the mercury. What is knownas su'bjacent to'the magnetized cylinder 28 and black sand in placer mining, contains magsecured to the frame 10 by means of a coiled netic iron in greater or less proportions, and s ring 29 and by means of a pivot through I remove this black sand by means of a magthe opening 47, is a scraper 30, mounted in netized cylinder with which the sand comes such a manner as to come in contact with the in contact within my mechanism and to peripheral surface of the cylinder 28.

adheres, the same being ounted near the to ofthe bowl 11 and by means of a rotary engaging the outer surface thereof, is an inbrush and a scraper and transported to one I clined trough 31, extending outward and side and away from the other sand and dirt bedownward from the bowl 1] and which is sub.- ing treated. This separation of the black jacent and in aposition at right angles with its preservation for other an inclined trough 32, which extends outtreatment, whereby the gold may be eX- ward and downward from the cylinder 28 same. and at a position crosswise of the frame 10. am aware of the fact of black sand being The shaft 27 bears at one end thereof two removed from placer dirt by means of magsprocket wheels 34 and 35 and one cognetized plates, but the advantages of a rowheel 36. The cog-wheel 36 meshes with a tating cylinder for tl 1e purpose will be apparcog-wheel 37 on end of shaft 23. A s rocket ent to one skilled in the process of treating wheel37 is mounted upon the end of t e shaft placer dirt. 19. idler shaft 38 is secured to the frame In the drawings, Figure 1, is a front elevation of the device, Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the same, F'g. 3, is a perspective 10, u on which shaft is mounted a sprocket whee 39. This sprocket wheel 39 is provided in order that the chain gear 40 may be made effective in rotating the rotary brush 33 in an opposite direction from the rotation of the magnetized cylinder 28.

A hand lever 41, fulcrumed at the pivot 42 is provided as a means of throwing the machinery in and out of gear. The lever 41 is securedto the collar 43, which is feathered to the shaft- 1(3,-in order that the friction clutch 44 may be brought into engagement and disengagement with the sprocket wheel 45 to which is applied the chain gear 46 leading from the engine or motor furnishing the ow er and to which the power is applied.

At the top of the frame 10 and engaging the top surface of the magnetized cylinder 28 is provided a hopper 48 adapted for a receptacle for the placer dirt as first applied to the mechanism.

In Fig. 2 l have shown the sides of the funnel 20 and 20", leading to the cylinder 28 and by means of which the placer dirt cleared of the black sand is guided into the funnel 20. lso in Fig. 2 l. have shown the extension 32 of the trough 32, to a point underneath the rotary brush 33, in order that the black sand removed from the magnetized cylinder 28 by the brush 33 and by the scraper 30 may be guided into the trough 32.

In Fig. 3 I have shown means for the magnetization of the cylinder 28. To the shaft 27 are secured four supports 49, leading to the cylinder 28. To these supports 49 is secured a wire coil 50. On the shaft 27 adjacent to one end of the cylinder 28 are secured two vcomrnutators 51 and 52. A wire 53 secured to the commutator 52 passes through an insulator 54 to and through an opening 55 in the commutator 51 and connects with the wire coil 50. Two brushes 56 and 57 are secured to the frame 10 and engage the surfaces of the commutators 51 and 52, respectively, to which brushes 56 and 57 are connected the electric current by means of the wires 58 and 59, respectively. fibrous insulator 60 is provided longitudinally l i l l l l l of the cylinder 28, intervening each sup port 49.

In the practical working of the apparatus, the machinery is set in motion and the placer dirt to be treated is thrown into the hopper 43. The black sand. or that containing magnetic iron adheres to the surface 01 the mag netized cylinder 28 in its rotations and is removed therefrom by the rotary brush 33 and. the scraper 30, drops into the trough 31. and is carried from there by gravity to the trough 32 and thence to one side of the apparatus. The remaining placer dirt drops from the cylinder 23 into the funnel 20 and is carried by means of the chain 25 and the cups 20 at intervals thereon, downward through the opening 61 in the bottom of the funnel 20 into the bowl 1 1 containing the mercury ,where with the assistance of the revolving movement of the bowl ll the same becomes thoroughly mixed with the mercury. The gold contained in the placer dirt adheres to the mercury and the dirt is forced to the surface thereof and from there sloughed off and carried away b 1 means of gravity, stream of water if thought advisable through the inclined trough 31.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

In an apparatus for separating gold from placer dirt, the combination of a frame, a hopper mounted on the frame, a funnel extending downward from the hopper, an endless chain carrying cups mounted within the funnel, a rotating bowl inclosing the lower end. of said funnel, an inclined trough leading from the bowl, and means for actuating said chain and bowl, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have allixcd my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

Vlitnesses W. J. PARKS, W. R. SAlWPSON.

and a 

